Teaching Scholars Program

Applications Open January 1, 2026

Scroll down for application details and instructions.
Important: This form must be completed in one sitting and cannot be saved. Please have all documents and responses ready before you begin.

Directors

Chad Stickrath

Chad Stickrath, MD, FACP

Dr. Stickrath is an Associate Professor of Medicine, the Associate Dean for Medical Education, and the Director of the Teaching Scholars Program in the Academy of Medical Educators. The Teaching Scholars Program aligns with and amplifies his passion for mentoring talented faculty and building innovative programs and curricula.

Helen Macfarlane

Helen Macfarlane, MA

Helen Macfarlane is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine, Director of Curriculum and Instructional Design at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine and the Director for the Teaching Scholars Program.

Core Program Elements

Click the sections below to learn about each program component.

The TSP Kickoff Retreat spans two days and serves as the official introduction to the program, the cohort, and TSP leadership. Interactive sessions are designed to support participants’ development as educators, foster connections within the cohort, and provide orientation to program expectations, logistics, and technology.

The TSP Seminar Series runs during the first year and is led by TSP leadership and School of Medicine faculty. Sessions cover key topics to support both professional growth and your TSP project. Scholars apply new knowledge and skills immediately, collaborate with mentors and peers, and engage in professional activities beyond the program.

Schedule & Format

When: Tuesdays, 1:30–4:30 PM MT
Frequency: generally two times a month, though there may be months where there are more sessions are required.
Format: Sessions are a mix of Zoom and in-person, with the majority being on Zoom.

Throughout the program, Teaching Scholars learn how to be both an effective mentee and a supportive mentor—skills that are essential to ongoing professional development. Scholars identify a mentor team with whom they collaborate regularly throughout the program. Additionally, each teaching scholar is assigned a mentor from the TSP leadership team.

Scholars complete a project—such as curriculum design, a needs assessment, or program evaluation—by applying seminar concepts and best practices through structured assignments. Initial progress occurs in Year 1 and includes three works-in-progress deliverables, as well as practice presentations at ScEI Club and for the incoming TSP cohort.

In Year 2, scholars have dedicated time to focus on project completion, using the protected Tuesday time previously reserved for seminars. Final projects are submitted to the Education and Innovation Symposium, hosted by the Office for Faculty Development and the Academy of Medical Educators.

Teaching Scholars talking during session

Time Commitment

Teaching Scholars commit 0.10 (10%) FTE, which is used to complete all program requirements, including scheduled sessions, assignments, project work, and meetings with mentors.

Scholars should plan to reserve Tuesday afternoons from 1:30–4:30 PM as protected TSP time for seminars, mentor meetings, and project development. Most sessions are held via Zoom; however, some sessions are conducted in person, and scholars should plan to be on campus on those dates.

In addition, scholars are expected to attend a two-day intensive kickoff retreat, held on the Anschutz Medical Campus in late August or early September.

We ask that scholars make every effort to attend all sessions. We recognize that clinical obligations may occasionally arise; in such cases, scholars should notify program administration in advance whenever possible.

Program Structure

Year

ONE

Didactic Segment

Scholars participate in regular seminars, group mentoring, and Works-in-Progress sessions on Tuesday afternoons. Throughout the year, they begin developing their projects and share emerging work at a ScEI Club meeting to receive additional feedback and support. Scholars also meet quarterly with their TSP mentor for individualized guidance and work closely with their project mentors to support ongoing progress throughout the program.

Year

TWO

Self-Directed Segment

During the second year, scholars focus on advancing and completing their projects. Tuesday afternoons are reserved for dedicated development time, and meetings with TSP and project mentors continue to support progress. The program culminates in the spring, when scholars present their projects at the annual Education and Innovation Symposium, which also serves to celebrate the graduation of the cohort.

Application Overview

Eligibility

Faculty from all Schools and Colleges on the Anschutz Medical Campus are welcome to apply.

Please note:

Applicants must have documented support and a commitment of protected time from their department or division leadership.
Faculty outside the School of Medicine must have departmental or divisional support to cover the $2,600 tuition. Participation is not available without this support.
A concept for a curriculum development or education research project is required as part of the application.
Applicants with a master’s degree in education are usually not selected for TSP, as the program is designed for faculty who do not already have this level of advanced education.

Application Process

Applications are open annually from January 1-March 15.

Submissions are completed online via the application form.
All required materials must be included for consideration.
The online form must be completed in one sitting, so please gather all materials in advance.
See the “Application Instructions and Materials” section below for further details.

Cohort Selection

Following a competitive application process, approximately 20 participants are accepted into each cohort. One spot each year is reserved for a fellow whose fellowship is in medical education or clinical education. Fellows and their program directors should contact TSP Leadership specifying the fellow selected to their medical or clinical education fellowship prior to the TSP application deadline.

Application Instructions

Expand each section for details about the application step.

Current CV Mentors' contact information
Document of Support from department or division leadership (see Letter of Support Template)
- Letters from applicants outside the School of Medicine must include a statement confirming that their School or College agrees to cover the tuition cost of $2,600 per applicant.

Each of the following questions MUST be answered on your application.

You can use the TSP Application Questions Form to prepare your responses. You may either upload this completed document or use the form to compose your responses and paste them directly into the form.

1.) Educational Background

What previous education or training (e.g., degree, certificate, or other recognition) have you received in teaching, educational scholarship, or leadership? Please name and briefly describe any relevant programs.

2.) Personal and Professional Goals

What personal and professional goals do you hope to achieve through your participation in TSP? Write a brief paragraph explaining why you believe TSP will benefit your career or current position.

3.) Project Idea

Describe an idea you have for a health education curriculum development project and what your role would be. Alternatively, you may describe a health education research project unrelated to curriculum development, but curriculum projects are preferred. Consider a project that can be completed within the 18-month timeframe. If your idea is longer-term, focus on a specific aspect that is achievable within this period (e.g., conducting a needs assessment).

4.) Project Origin and Feasibility

Provide details about how your project idea (from question #3) was generated, including the following:

Was the idea suggested by your department head, or is it your own initiative?
Do you have any funding or institutional support for this project?
What are the major challenges you anticipate in developing and implementing your project?
Do you have an identified mentor for this project? If so, include their name, contact information, and your relationship to them. (Note: Having a mentor is not a requirement for application. TSP will assist participants in identifying an appropriate mentor if needed.)

Additional Guidance:

Successful projects require stakeholder buy-in and the ability to execute the idea.
Provide information that demonstrates your capacity to make the project happen and the level of support you have from your department, team, or collaborators.
These questions are designed to help us understand your background, goals, and the feasibility of your project idea as part of the TSP experience.

Once you have gathered all documents and prepared your application questions, return to this page and open the online form to submit your materials.

The application form must be completed in one sitting and cannot be saved. Please ensure you have all required documents and your responses to the application questions prepared before you begin.

IMPORTANT
This form must be completed in one sitting and cannot be saved. Please ensure all documents and responses are ready before continuing.

Tools & Resources

CU Campuses

CU Anschutz

School of Medicine

Education

Teaching Scholars Program

Directors

Chad Stickrath, MD, FACP

Helen Macfarlane, MA

Core Program Elements

Schedule & Format

Time Commitment

Program Structure

Year

ONE

Didactic Segment

Year

TWO

Self-Directed Segment

Application Overview

Eligibility

Application Process

Cohort Selection

Application Instructions

1.) Educational Background

2.) Personal and Professional Goals

3.) Project Idea

4.) Project Origin and Feasibility

School of Medicine

Teaching Scholars Program

Directors

Chad Stickrath, MD, FACP

Helen Macfarlane, MA

Core Program Elements

Program Kickoff

Seminar Series

Faculty Mentorship

Curriculum Design Project

Time Commitment

Program Structure

Year

ONE

Didactic Segment

Year

TWO

Self-Directed Segment

Application Overview

Eligibility

Application Process

Cohort Selection

Application Instructions

1. Gather all required documents

2. Prepare responses to the application questions

3. Submit all application materials at once through the online form

School of Medicine